Cheese cigars.

This is a quick-quick-quick appetizer recipe, you can put the cheese you prefer inside, in the picture you can see cheddar because that was the cheese I had at home at the moment but they're fabulous with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese too or parmesan, a little mozzarella and rosemary.

You need:

toast bread in slices

same amount of cheese slices or diced mozzarella and tomato sauce

a little butter

Cut out the crust from bread slices, pass them under a rollpin to flatten then put on every slice a slice of cheese or a little tomato and mozzarella.

Roll the cigars, melt a small amount of butter in a pan then cook untill golden (first the seam side down to prevent them from open).

Serve hot, if you make the tomato-mozzarella version be aware that the filling will pour a little more than with plain cheese.

Nocino ( Walnuts liquor).



Tradition says if you want to make nocino you have to pick up walnuts the night between 23rd and 24th of June, the night of San Giovanni, often called "witches' night".

Walnuts are still green and not good to eat but the result of your liquor will be great.

This is a old family recipe but not from my family so I have to thank a friend for it :)

With this recipe you'll make about 34 oz. of nocino.

24 walnuts

34 oz. alcool (the one you use for liquor)

1 teaspoon grinded cinnamon

5 cloves

a piece of dry lemon zest

a piece of dry orange zest

Later:

35 oz. sugar

3,5 oz. alcool (the one you use for liquor)

Cut the walnuts in 4 parts, put them in a mason jar with zests and spices plus 34 oz. of alcool.

Let it rest for 40 days in a dark place.

After 40 days make a syrup with the sugar and about the same quantity of hot water and 3,5 oz. of alcool.

When the sugar dissolved pour the syrup into the jar, let it rest again for 20 days.

After 20 days filter it with a fine strainer, pour it in bottles.

It will be ready after 1-2 months.

Honey buns extra-light.

This recipe came out from a magazine clipping that arrived to me through a close friend some years ago.

It was about "honey cookies" but, even if I followed it to perfection, what I had at the end was very far from a cookie!

Anyway the taste is good and dainty and this recipe is so light that can become a non-guilty treat.

You need:

1/2 cup milk or less

1 egg

2 cups 1/4 all purpose flour

1/2 cup honey

baking powder

Mix warm honey with flour and baking powder, add egg then milk enough to have a smooth dough.

Let it rest for about 1 hour in the fridge, covered, then knead again and divide it into pieces of about 0.70 oz., put them on a baking tin, brush with a little milk then bake for 15-20 minutes at 355 F°.

They're good but the day after they become a little bit stale because they have no fat inside, keep them in a plastic bag to prevent it or heat them a little before eating them.

You can add about 1/2 cup of butter to the mix to have a richer treat.

People from Emilia- Romagna are just like that.

People from Emilia-Romagna are just like that.
They need a car? They build a Ferrari, a Lamborghini or a Maserati.
They need a motorbike? They build Ducati
They want cheese? They make Parmigiano
They need to create a quick pasta dish? They open a Barilla factory
They want a good coffee? They open a Saeco factory
They need some good songwriters? They give birth to people such as Dalla, Vasco, Morandi and Ligabue.

They need tiles? They end up with beautiful majolica tiles
They are just like the Japanese: they never stop, if they have to do something they make sure to do it in the most perfect, beautiful and useful way for everyone.
Will there be bricks available after this earthquake? They’ll end up using them to build cathedrals!

 

This is a translation of a piece from " Il Resto del Carlino", thanks to Silvia Somaggio, she helped me translating it the best way.

Eggplants' minipizzas.



Ok we're still shaking, many families lost their homes and maybe even worst their workplaces (it's a place full of factories, stock-breedings and dairies) but we're strong and ready to rebuild everything bigger and better.
I'm trying to do my part with some clothes and other things donation and today I'm back here with a recipe, sign that lie goes on anyway.
It's easy and light, very yummy and I have to thank my friend Miky for it!

Serving 2:

1 big eggplant

tomato sauce

mozzarella cheese

basil or oregano

salt and pepper to taste

anything you like to top your pizzas with

Cut your eggplants into about 0,30 inches round slices, sprinkle with a little salt, let them rest untill some water appears on the slices, dry them with kitchen paper and put on a slightly greased baking tin then cover with a spoon of tomato sauce, some mozzarella, salt and pepper and theherbs you like.
Bake for about 15 minutes at 390 F°, when they're almost ready add other toppings if you like.

Earthquakes & more.

About 10 days ago a strong earthquake stroke my country, epicentre was just few miles from our home.
We didn't have damages or got hurt but so many around us did.
I was very worried about it because we had many other jolts even if not of that magnitudo and I was also very busy because my grandma is spending her few days on earth and it's so sad even if it's just something that have to happen.
Today, early in the morning, another big one stroke and while I'm writting two more jolts made me and my husband jump and decide to get ready to grab Lorenzo and exit the house.
We sleep with shoes in front of the door and a bag packed with some things, you can imagine I have no time and no will to post recipes, I really hope all this will stop asap!

Zucchini bites.



Lovely idea found somewhere on Pinterest: I've tried them, they're simply and delicious.

I prefer them room temperature rather than hot or warm, not tried cold.

I used a mini muffins pan (so hard to find it in Italy...Two friends of mine ordered it and gave to me as Christmas present and I still say thank you!), I don't think they would turn out well in a regoular muffin pan: too big, there's the risk they remain soggy inside.

This week end in my city there's a big flower fair: if you like flowers and gardens give a look to my facebook page, I've posted a lot of pics!

For 12 mini muffins:

1 medium zucchini grated

1/2 onion grated or finely diced

salt & pepper

1/2 smashed garlic clove

1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1 egg

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, if it's seem too liquid add a little more bread crumbs, put the mixture with a spoon into the muffin holes (grease them if you don't have a non sticky pan).

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 400 F°, serve room temperature.